Expansion comb or reed.



A. E. RHOADES.

EXPANSION COMB-0R REED.

APPLICATION men mm 10. 1914.

Patented. Dec. 4, 191?.

ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF IEIIOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION 0F MAINE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 1,1917.

Application filed July 10, 1914. Serial No. 850,140.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo E. RHoAnEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Expansion Combs or Reeds, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to expansion combs orreeds for holding threads in proper separated relation as they are drawn therethrough.

' In devices of this character as heretofore constructed, the teeth or dents ofthe comb have been positioned between the coils of a spring, and in order to adjust the length of the comb and vary the spacing between the teeth or dents, means have been provided permitting adjustment in the length of the spring. Such expansion and contraction of the spring has served to move the dents or teeth,-but the movement thereof has not been uniform from end to end of the comb or reed, and the attendant, after lengthening or shortening the comb, has attempted to even up the spacing between the teeth or dents by running his hand along the series. This has not served itspurpose, and the re sult has been that the warp beam onto which the threads are delivered, would be unevenly wound, the threads at one part being thicker 'or clustered closer together than in another art.

p, The aims and purposes of the present invention are to provide means, whereby when the spring is lengthened or shortened, the space between the dents or teeth of the comb will remain uniform, that is, the teeth or dents throughout the length of the comb will be spaced apart a substantially uniform amount, so that the warp will be delivered to and wound upon the warp beam in the desired relation,all of which will be made clear from the following description and accompanying drawings of one form of means for carrying the invention into practical effect. 1

In the drawings 2- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an expansion comb or reed embodying one form of the present invention, one of the longitudinal plates being removed, and parts broken away for clearer illustration;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one half the screw detached;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a like section on the line H, Fig. 1.

Like prior constructions, the comb of the present invention may comprise a suitable case for conveniently supporting the parts thereof. As shown, this case consists of the base portion 1 to which are secured by suitable means, such as the screws 2, the side members 3, the top portions of which provide a suitable longitudinal slot 4 through which the teeth or dents of the comb project.

Mounted in suitable end blocks 5, preferably one at each end of the comb casing, by means such as the clamps 6 and screws 7, are the longitudinal side wires 8, 9, 10 and 11, and the bottom wire 12. Between the side wires and preferably strung upon the bottom wire, are the teeth or dents 13, which may be of usual construction.

Suitably mounted for rotative movement in the end blocks 5, only one of which is shown, is a screw, the characterizing features and functions of which will more fully appear. Mounted on the end portions of the screw are the spring adjusting blocks 14, and since Fig. 1 shows only one end part of the entire comb, only one of these blocks is illustrated, but it will be understood that there is a similar block on the other end portion of the screw. Secured to and extending between the adjusting blocks 14 are the springs 15, preferably arranged in interlocking pairs as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, one pair being arranged near the upper and the other near the lower part of the casing, and

through the coils of said springsextend the lower portions of the teeth or dents 13, as will readily appear from Figs. 3 and 4:. Preferably also, the lower ends of the teeth or dents rest in the groove 16 in the base 1 of the casing, the construction being such that the teeth'or dents of the comb will be supported in upright position with relation to the base of the casing and be maintained in separated relation by the coils of the said springs, so that on adjustment of the adjusting blocks 14: the springs will be expanded or contracted to separate or bring closer together, as the case may be, the teeth or dents of the comb.

To properly wind the threads on the warp beam in desired uniform spaced relation, it is necessary that the teeth or dents of the comb be always spaced the same distance apart throughout the length of the comb,

but the s rin s 15 in the rior constructions will not expand and contract equally throughout, when adjusted to vary the length thereof, with the result that the teeth at one part of the comb will be spaced differently than are the teeth at another part of the comb, and the threads will be wound thicker on one part of the warp beam than on another part. In the present invention, however, means are provided to insure proper and uniform spacing of the teeth or dents of the comb whatever be the adjusted length thereof, so that the threads will be wound upon the beam in the uniform and desired relation.

One form of means embodying these characterizing features of the invention comprises a screw having differently threaded ortions on each of which is mounted a block liaving controlling connections with the expansion springs between the coils of which the dents are held, the construction being such that said blocks divide the springs into sections, and upon rotation of the screw for lengthening or shortening the comb, insure that the expanding or contracting action of the spring and perforce the spacing of the comb teeth, shall extend with substantial uniformity throughout the length of the comb. The screw, which may, for identification, be termed the comb adjusting screw, is rotatably mounted at each end in the end blocks 5, and may be provided at one end with suitable means, such as the hand-piece 17 connected to the projecting end of the screw by a set bolt or clamp 18, so that the screw can be conveniently rotated. The

central portion of the comb adjusting screw may likewise have a bearing or support in a fixed block 19 secured to the comb casing.

In the present illustration of the inven tion, only one half of the screw is shown, but it will be understood that the other half, that to the right of the central fixed block 19, is a duplication of that to the left, with the threads reversed, that is, one half is a right, and one half a left screw thread.

In the present form of the invention the comb adjusting screw 31 is formed at each side of the central fixed bearing block 19 with a plurality of sections of screw threads 20, 21 and 22, three being shown, but obviously the number of sections may be varied. The pitch of the threads, by which is meant the inclination of the threads to the longitudinal axis of the screw, is different in the different sections, the pitch of the screw in section 21 being greater than in section 20, and that of the section 22 greater than in section 21, the construction being such that the travel of the thread in section 21 will form of the invention shows that section 20 is formed of a single thread, section 21 of double thread, and section 22 of triple thread. For instance, if section 20 contains eighteen single threads to the inch, section 21 may contain eighteen double threads to the inch, and section 22, eighteen triple threads to the inch, the effect being, as will presently appear, to maintain the comb teeth in uniform spaced relation.

Mounted on the section of the screw and preferably within the comb casing are the blocks 23, 24, and 14, so that upon rotation of the screw the block 23 will move one unit distance, block 24 will move two unit distances, and block 14. will move three unit distances.

As hereinbefore noted, the ends of the expansion springs 15 are secured to the blocks 14. The intermediate blocks 23 and 24 are each connected to one of the teeth of the comb by suitable means, such as the pins 25 projecting from the upper and lower portions of said blocks, one at each side of a tooth, the construction being such that as the blocks are moved, the teeth connected thereto move a like amount, and since the coils of spring 15 are engaged by the said teeth, corresponding movement of the spring at such Points results.

From the construction described, it will be seen that when the comb adjusting screw is rotated, the expansion springs 15 will expand or contract according to the direction of rotation, and the blocks 23, 24, and 14 will be moved, longitudinally of the comb, distances dependent upon the travel of the screw threads of the respective sections. The travel of block 24, for instance, will be greater than that of block 23, and the travel of block 14 will be greater than that of block 24, with the result that the expan sion spring 15 will be compelled to expand and contract with substantial uniformity throughout its length, instead of expanding and contracting at some particular part of the spring more than at others; that is, the separation of the coils of the springs will remain substantially uniform throughout the length of the comb regardless of whether the springs arelengthened or shortened, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. I

In order'that the screw 31 may be readily made, the sections are preferably formed separately and connected by suitable sleeves or sockets 26, but various expedients may suggest themselveswithin the true scope of the actual invention. The blocks 23 and 24 may alsobe variously formed and connected of the casing to properly guide the same.

during its longitudinal movement in the casing. The portions 27 and 28 may also conveniently provide means for supporting the pins 25 which engage the adjacent tooth of the comb. Between the upper and lower bearingportions 27 and 28 of each block is a hublike part 23 internally screw-threaded to engage a section of the screw 31, Fig. 3, showing the singleand Fig. 4=, the triple threaded section.

In order that the teeth of the comb may be steadied. and supported in their longitudinal movements, by .the movable blocks, said.

blocks may be provided with a slotted projection 32 to engage the tooth moved by it,

said projection being preferably arranged.

between the upper and lower expansion springs. Since the blocks 14 are connected to the ends of the spring 15 they may be provided with socketed portions 33, and are preferably formed in two parts, as indicated in Fig. 4:, locked together by suitable means, such as the cotter pins 34, but such construc* tion, while convenient, is not essential.

What is claimed is 1. In an expansion comb for guiding threads, the combination of a series of teeth or dents between which the'threads pass, an expansion spring for spacing the teeth 'or dents, an adjusting, screw for expanding and contracting the spring having a plurality of sections of uniform diameter-each provided with the same number of threads per unit of length of different pitch, and connections between each of said sections and a tooth or dent ofthe comb.

2. In an ex ansion comb, the combination of a series o dents or-teeth, a spring for spacing the dents or teeth, an adjusting screw of substantially uniform; diameter formed ofa plurality of independent sections connected end to end, each section being provided with the same number of I y threads per umt oflength but of difierent traverse, and means for connecting each section with the spring.

4 3. An expansion comb, comprising, in.

combination, an expansion spring, a two,- 7 part block at each end of the comb inclosing the end coils of the spring, a screw engaging the two-part blocks formed of a plurality of sections each provided with the same number of teeth er unit of length and of different pitch, locks intermediate the end blocks each engaging a section of the screw, and dents carried bythe intermediate ,blocks and engaging the spring.

4. In an expansion comb, the combination of aseries of dents or teeth, an adjusting screw formed of a plurality of independent sectionsof like diameter each provided with the same number of threads per unit of length and of different pitch, socket pieces for connecting the sections of the screw end to end, a spring between the coils of which the teeth or dents extend, a series of blocks threaded to the different sections of the screw, means for connecting each block with one ,of the dents or teeth, and means for simultaneously rotating sections of the screw.

5. In an expansion comb for guidin threads, the combinationwith a series 0 dents between which the threads pass, of an expansive spring for spacing the dents, an adjusting screw for expanding and contracting the spring having a plurality of sections,

each provided with the same number of threads per unit of length, but of different pitch, and members threaded on said sections for causing the spacing actionpf the spring upon the dents to be uniform ALoNzo E. RHOADES.

Witnesses:

FRANK B. Davis, DANAOsGooD.

all the j 

